Memorial Details
Memorial
Parochial Hall 1914-18
Reference
M17.04
Place
MORPETH
Map ref
NZ 201869
Original Location
Y.M.C.A., Dark Lane, formerly Parochial Hall. (Demolished)
Present Location
Changes of use. Building finally demolished 1999.
Which war
1914-18
Dedication, Creation or Publication date
The building acquired in 1918 (previously a workshop); officially opened as Memorial Hall in 1919 by the Bishop of Newcastle.
Memorial Description
Building.
Materials used
Brick
Inscription
None, but dedicated to the members of the Church of England who had died.
Names
None
Who commissioned
The Church planned the change of use.
Cost
£2,400 for the Hall, and £800 for the conversion.
How money was raised
£1520 given by 18 local worthies; fund raising events provided the balance. Mr. Renwick gave £500.
Sculptor, Artist or Designer
C.F. Murphy designed the alterations into club rooms for men, boys and girls, cloakroom and WCs.
Ownership and maintenance
Latterly, Y.M.C.A.
Notes
1. In 1927, the ownership passed into the hands of the Parochial Council, and in 1939 they passed into the hands of the YMCA for a canteen for troops billeted locally. PCC resumed ownership of Hall after the war, but it became a burden on the church and was finally sold to the YMCA in 1965.
2. In the Church Magazine, the Rector of Morpeth made it quite clear "to any 'Free Church' friends" that the Parochial Hall had been purchased by the CofE at the CofE's instigation as a memorial to the men of the CofE who had died and that "it was a surprise to me that anyone could have thought differently".
3. The building was finally demolished and a block of flats named Admiral Collingwood Court built on the site.
4. Lady Renwick presented a large quantity of furniture for use at the hall, including over 70 chairs, a number of tables, benches, pictures. As a consequence, the Rector stated that the hall was now fully equipped.
5. A move to provide a Parochial Hall for the use of Church activities such as the Boys’ Brigade had started before the war and a sum of £500 had been raised. “There was no room but the Mission Room where any church organization could meet or classes be held, and there was no doubt that the inadequate accommodation mitigated against the inception, and still more against the development and extension of work for women and girls, and much more was this the case with the work for boys and men, for they seemed to require much more room and scope for their activities than the ladies did.
6. A recreation ground was proposed and the first part of this – a bowling green – was opened in July 1924. It was hoped that tennis courts would follow.
2. In the Church Magazine, the Rector of Morpeth made it quite clear "to any 'Free Church' friends" that the Parochial Hall had been purchased by the CofE at the CofE's instigation as a memorial to the men of the CofE who had died and that "it was a surprise to me that anyone could have thought differently".
3. The building was finally demolished and a block of flats named Admiral Collingwood Court built on the site.
4. Lady Renwick presented a large quantity of furniture for use at the hall, including over 70 chairs, a number of tables, benches, pictures. As a consequence, the Rector stated that the hall was now fully equipped.
5. A move to provide a Parochial Hall for the use of Church activities such as the Boys’ Brigade had started before the war and a sum of £500 had been raised. “There was no room but the Mission Room where any church organization could meet or classes be held, and there was no doubt that the inadequate accommodation mitigated against the inception, and still more against the development and extension of work for women and girls, and much more was this the case with the work for boys and men, for they seemed to require much more room and scope for their activities than the ladies did.
6. A recreation ground was proposed and the first part of this – a bowling green – was opened in July 1924. It was hoped that tennis courts would follow.
Newspaper cuttings, photos or archival material
Photo: J. Brown; Old photos: A.H. Tweddle
Morpeth Herald 19/12/1919 reports opening of the hall; 16/03/1923 reports from the Church Magazine quoted in Note (2) above; 27/04/1923 reports that the conversion cost £4,000 and that there were still some hundreds of pounds outstanding; 18/05/1923 reports fund raising activity; 18/07/1924 reports opening of bowling green
Illustrated Chronicle 02/12/1921 reports Lady Renwick’s gift.
Newcastle Daily Chronicle 02/12/1921 reports Lady Renwick’s gift.
Morpeth Herald 19/12/1919 reports opening of the hall; 16/03/1923 reports from the Church Magazine quoted in Note (2) above; 27/04/1923 reports that the conversion cost £4,000 and that there were still some hundreds of pounds outstanding; 18/05/1923 reports fund raising activity; 18/07/1924 reports opening of bowling green
Newcastle Daily Chronicle 02/12/1921 reports Lady Renwick’s gift.
Links to Source Material :
Research acknowledgements
The late A.H. Tweddle. J. Brown; Dorothy Hall
Research In Progress
The names for 1914-18 are being researched by the Morpeth Antiquarian Society. They are concentrating on the Cenotaph, and are working with the pupils at King Edward VI School on their memorial. Contact Angela Teasdale: morpethas2014@gmail.com
Parochial Hall 1914-18 (M17.04)
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Parish Notes
Every Name A Story
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